James Akham
President | Rongmei Council Nagaland
It is pertinent to once again apprise and reiterate/restate the rights of the Rongmeis of Nagaland to the general Naga publics on the issue of Rongmei recognition in the state of Nagaland. The continual refusal and denial of the fact by some sections of leaders in the pretext and aegis of NTC and ENPO is generally reflecting or indicating certain defects notion or rationale deficiency of the Naga society. The syndrome of shortcomings needs to be diagnosed and remedy has to be worked out.
Reasoned that, the apprehensive and discriminative motive of some few Naga brothers and leaders against the Rongmei community is very unthought-of. The intention to de-recognize and reject the Rongmei Nagas in the home state is ruthless and unexpected to have experienced in the supposedly Christian Naga society. The present state of affairs or prevailing scenario is regretted and sorrow-ridden. The communal issue-based composing NTC is still actively displaying a show of rejection against the recognition of Rongmei Tribe in the state, creating false public opinions, fallacious notions and out-rightly denying the fellow Naga brothers without realizing the facts, logics and the deserving status of the Rongmei citizens in the state. The fact is politically tempering, tuning and aggravating to suit to the advantages of the many evil designers in the Naga politics and society.
Reasoned and affirmed that the Rongmeis of Nagaland too are members of Naga common family of the same racial stock like any other Naga tribe in the state. They too suffer pains and loss like any other Naga tribes in varying degrees for/in the cause of the Naga struggle as well as in the process of building the Naga society in the state; both in the Government and social organizational set up. The Rongmeis never claim or beg the share of other Naga brothers in any manner but justly claiming their deserving share from the constitutional provision as equal citizens of the state of India. The cruel measures meted out against the just demand of the community are humanly wrong and legally unlawful. The rights of being the indigenous citizenship are naturally and constitutionally guaranteed already to every tribe in the state without tribal distinction or criterion. Understood that, enlisting the Rongmei tribe in the state’s Naga tribe list will not hamper or hinder the progress or program of the state or people therein in any manner or measure, rather it enlarges or increases the grant of appropriation central provision for the state and create better advantage in building the whole Naga society and people in all fronts. There is no good or right logic to deny the advantage of being together in equality and in unity as a people. Having fulfilled all the criteria laid down by the Govt. of Nagaland, the Rongmeis of Nagaland are pursuing their rights to assert their citizens’ status under the legal constitutional provision of the state and country, guided by the spirits and principle of the universal human rights. What authority or legal sanction has NTC to reject or oppose the just cause of the Rongmeis of Nagaland? When the tribal Hohos and its Apex Naga Hoho in the state understand and felt compassion for the just cause of the deprived and left out Rongmei Naga Tribe of Nagaland, the government of Nagaland after much studied and with strict application have officially recognized the only categorized members of the Rongmei as one of the groups of the Naga tribes of Nagaland. What wrong or harm does the recognition in question make to the people? Let us exercise a sense of humanity and understand, respecting each other’s person or tribe in the perspective of Human rights and refrain from making narrow domestic wall of partition among ourselves. We have greater common issues and threats posing us and endangering our survival as a free people in our own land. The Rengmas of Assam and the Rongmeis of Nagaland and many other Nagas within and without the state are entangling in the outside political trap and prisons with constant threats posing them. The issues and problems within are many and overwhelming the people today with no adequate and complete solutions or strategy to resolve in place.
Citing and comparing the example of the Hindu Manipur state, wherein a few persons of Sema and Angami were recognized in the state under the scheduled tribes Act of 1950, unopposed or not a complaint ever meted against their status and existence. What better Christian examples can Nagas reflect or exemplify to the world?
Clearing the confusion and distortion created by certain sections of the NTC leaders, the Rongmei Council (Hoho) Nagaland is morally and socially obliged to state the facts, imploring the wisdom and social conscience of the Naga society to reason and understand for themselves what went wrong and what happened to the Nagas that has created the present ugly reality and scenario in the state. The undeniable history of the Rongmei community in the present state of Nagaland created out of the erstwhile Assam since the regime of the British India is self explanatory. During that period of time, there was peaceful co-existence among different communities such as Garos, Kacharis, Kukis, Mikirs and the Nagas in the whole of Naga Hills. Sooner after the inception of the statehood of Nagaland in 1963, that cordial and harmonious relation has turned turmoil and distrustful creating unfriendly climate in the Naga society. Subsequently and unfortunately, as fate would have befallen upon the Rongmei people, the oppressive and depriving environment has been created adding hardships and complicacies fated for the people. In such a hard and adamant climate of the Naga society, the few Rongmeis of Nagaland are struggling to assert their feeble and worn out position to be elevated by the Government. Responding to the lowly and humble petition of the deprived Rongmeis, the Govt. has recognized with certain limitations and bindings by order/notification of the Governor of Nagaland. Even that recognition is being opposed by some sections of the Naga society, causing disappointments and insecurity to the aggrieved community. What status or class do the NTC have in mind for the Rongmei tribe to be cornered in the state? It is imperative to understand that, the government’s notification of 1977 was only and solely specified and defined criteria meant for employment and facilities to be given to the citizens of the state of Nagaland without specifying or legalizing a person/tribe on the basis of aboriginal status or tribe as criteria for obtaining govt. provisions. It did not design or made to treat only to the Rongmei but to all the inhabitants of the state. Therefore all must be subjected under its criteria without exception or specification.
Having reasoned and understood the legitimacy of the Rongmeis of Nagaland to be enlisted in the state as one of the Naga tribes, the Govt. of Nagaland has duly studied the matter and recognized and notified through the Governor’s Notification. What if the recognition is rolled back just because of the pressure of some sections of leaders? What and how the stability and prestige of the Nagaland Government and Naga society at large will look like? Perceives that, if the Nagas’ continue to discriminate or classifies among themselves on petty matters, will there be united Nagas tomorrow? The trend of splitting and divisions among the Nagas within and without the state is taking a dangerous shape in the society. The Naganess will soon loss its, sanity, fiber or bond in the state resulting to looking at each other with an eye of tribal line or even location, as Nagas of the eastern Nagaland, Nagas of the Northern Nagaland, southern, western etc and further goes on to say, greater Nagas, lesser Nagas or adopted Nagas till the term Nagas is lost to only Tribal identity conf ined within the states of India. The sectional organization emerged out of the members of Nagaland tribes apart from the respective tribal Hohos in the form of the so called Nagaland Tribes Council(NTC) is seen as a rising crisis and chaos of the people.
The Rongmei Council Nagaland, through the media would like to appeal to the wisdom of the Naga leaders and the conscience of the Naga society to see the reality, the vision and aspiration of the common Nagas for ultimate political victory and strive together toward attaining it in the spirit of oneness. The Rongmei people shall remain faithful and steadfast on their stand as one of the Naga tribes of Nagaland committing its loyalty toward building the common cause and general welfare of the Nagas as a people.
